/BDN9_case

A simple, versatile acrylic case for Keebio's BDN9

GNU General Public License v3.0GPL-3.0

BDN9 Acrylic case

A simple, versatile acrylic case for Keebio's BDN9.

BDN9

Get your own BDN9 kit at Keeb.io. Thank you as well for the original case files.

I set out to make a simple acrylic case when I first built my BDN9. It has been a great design project for me and after a lot of questions and a couple of revisions, I can finally make it available for others to make their own.

Download ready-to-upload Ponoko SVGs from Releases, but always verify the dimensions listed in the Ponoko Previewer when ordering.

About the Case

The case can be built in 2 case styles, Lo-Pro and Hi-Pro. There are also 2 options for RGB Underglow lighting if you choose to use it, RGB Diffuser or Bottom.

  • Lo-Pro: A low-profile case look with exposed switches. Will be cheaper and easiest to make, as it requires the fewest acrylic layers, and you could add on a Hi-Pro lip, 12mm M2 screws, and 3mm standoffs later.
  • Hi-Pro: A high-profile style that uses the same base as the Lo-Pro, and adds layers on top to cover the switches. Requires longer M2 screws (12mm for 2 lip layers, 15mm for 3 lip layers) than what is included in the BDN9 kit.

Components Needed

  • BDN9 Kit and Components: Follow the BDN9 Build Guide, but you will not be using the plates and standoffs.
  • 4x Standoffs
    • 9mm M2 standoffs OR 12mm Standoffs (Included in BDN9 Kit). You can use the 12mm standoffs, just add one of the Mid Layer pieces. I just find the height to be too high for my liking.
  • 4x Top Screws
    • 12mm M2 screws for a Hi-Pro lip with 2 layers that comes to just below the top of the switch housing.
    • 15mm M2 screws for a Hi-Pro lip with 3 layers that comes to covers the keyswitch completely as well as the bottom of the keycap.
    • Original 6mm M2 screws included in the kit can be used for Lo-Pro case style.
  • 4x Bottom Screws
    • Use original 6mm M2 screws included in the kit.

Acrylic Layers

This case was designed with 3mm thick acrylic layers, as this is usually easy to find in many different colors. I recommend using Ponoko to cut the pieces. No matter your case style, you will need at the very least the pieces for the Lo-Pro style. The layers are arranged here from top to bottom in terms of stacking order. Optional plates are noted below.

Dimensions of EVERY LAYER should be 73.131mm x 73.131mm. If using Ponoko, make sure length and height are equal to 73.1mm. If not, simply edit the fields.

Hi-Pro

Add as many bdn9_H1_lip layers as you want to create the High Profile lip. I found 2 to be the sweet spot, with 3 being higher but can interfere when using some knobs and keycaps.

Lo-Pro/Base

  1. MX Plate (bdn9_L1_plate): The thicker 3mm acrylic plate is needed for the sizing of the other layers with the cutout.
  2. PCB Plate (bdn9_L2_pcb_mid): This plate has one side thinner to allow clearance of the PCB.
  3. Cutout (bdn9_L3_cutout): Has space cutout for USB port (Pro Micro, Elite-C, Proton-C all work) as well as the reset switch.
  4. Cutout (bdn9_L4_cutout): Same as L3_cutout, and is recommended for NO RGB or Bottom RGB.
    1. Optional RGB Diffuser (bdn9_L4_diffuser): If instead you want an RGB Diffuser, then use L4_diffuser instead of L4_cutout.
  5. Bottom Plate (bdn9_L5_bottom): Bottom plate. I recommend Clear Matte (Frosted) or Clear for an RGB Bottom.

Optional Layers

  1. bdn9_O_L5_full_mid: If you cannot find 9mm standoffs, you can use the 12mm standoffs included with the kit and use this piece as a spacer. It is just a single solid acrylic piece with the standoff holes cutout, or add another bdn9_L4_cutout layer.

Examples

Hi-Pro Case, RGB Diffuser, 2 Layer Lip

Hi-Pro Layers would be:

  1. bdn9_H1_lip
  2. bdn9_H1_lip
  3. bdn9_L1_plate
  4. bdn9_L2_pcb_mid
  5. bdn9_L3_cutout
  6. bdn9_L4_diffuser (Clear Matte acrylic)
  7. bdn9_L5_bottom

Lo-Pro Case, RGB Bottom

Lo-Pro Layers would be:

  1. bdn9_L1_plate
  2. bdn9_L2_pcb_mid
  3. bdn9_L3_cutout
  4. bdn9_L4_cutout
  5. bdn9_L5_bottom (Clear Matte acrylic)

Hi-Pro Case, All Clear Matte, 3 Layer Lip

Lo-Pro Layers would be:

  1. bdn9_H1_lip
  2. bdn9_H1_lip
  3. bdn9_H1_lip
  4. bdn9_L1_plate
  5. bdn9_L2_pcb_mid
  6. bdn9_L3_cutout
  7. bdn9_L4_cutout
  8. bdn9_L5_bottom